Heer EM/NCO Buckle – Noelle & Heuck 1940

Product Description: This steel Heer EM/NCO Buckle is a great example of this iconic wartime belt buckle type. The obverse retains nearly all of the original field-gray paint, which has a slight shine. It’s a great strike, with all of the original crisp detailing intact. Some light wear to the edges, and to the high points of the design (including the eagle’s chest and swastika emblem), has revealed the gleam of bare steel. The reverse of this classic Heer EM/NCO Buckle is complete and sound. Virtually all of the original paint is still there. The catch is spot welded in place, as is typical. The roller bar and prongs that would affix this to a soldier’s belt are functional, with no issues. This buckle is marked near the catch with stamped lettering reading “N.&H. 1940” indicating manufacture by the firm of Noelle & Heuck, and the date of production. This desirable wartime German Army issue buckle has great finish and is in a strong excellent condition.

Historical Description: The belt buckle was an important part of the regalia worn by all uniformed military, civil, political and paramilitary organizations during the Third Reich. The belt (“Koppel”) was part of the uniform and would always be worn while on duty. The belt buckle (“Koppelschloss”) was generally specific to each organization, with many organizations having separate belt buckles for officers and for enlisted personnel, sometimes with different colors and finishes to further denote specific purposes. The buckles were adorned with various mottos and designs specific to the organizations for which they were intended. Many designs used the German national eagle emblem, in a variety of forms. Belt buckles were worn with uniforms ranging from finely tailored officer parade uniforms, to the issue uniforms of enlisted soldiers in combat. Generally speaking, most German belt buckles of the Third Reich were made with two prongs on the reverse, to allow the buckle to be worn and adjusted on a belt. The buckle had a catch that would mate with a hook on the belt, when worn. The earliest Third Reich buckles were often made of brass, or nickel silver. Later, aluminum became very common, and was used on private purchase as well as enlisted buckles of the German military, with or without a painted or plated finish. After WWII began, most enlisted military buckles were steel. Nazi belt buckles were popular souvenirs for Allied troops who served in Europe. Some types were made by the millions and remain quite common today. Others were made in limited numbers and are very rare.

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